Tamil Nadu police officers face murder charges in custodial death of temple guard Ajith Kumar; CBI found the theft allegation baseless and the High Court ordered state compensation

In June 2025 police in Sivaganga district detained temple security guard Ajith Kumar, 27, over a reported missing gold chain; he died in custody, and the post-mortem recorded 18 injuries. On 22 July 2025 the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court called the treatment 'intolerable in a civilised society' and ordered the Tamil Nadu government to pay Rs 25 lakh interim compensation, finding the state's Rs 7.5 lakh offer inadequate.